Consulate Review: Montreal, Canada
Review Topic: IR-1/CR-1 Visa
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| Event |
Description |
| Review Date : |
May 2, 2016 |
| Embassy Review : |
My appointment was for 10am on Friday, 15 April.
I arrived at the Consulate at about 9:40, just to be safe.
When I arrived, I joined the line outside of about 15 people, and was admitted to the building at roughly 9:50.
Entering the actual Consulate, I stood in line for about 15 minutes or so, and watched all the US Nationals admitted before anyone with an appointment.
Upon actually arriving at the floor where my interview would take place, I was provided a number and told to have a seat, listening for my number to be called.
I was #23, and the time written (off elevator) was 10:10. So, a little late....but not too bad, considering.
Numbers were called in the most haphazard fashion I've ever seen. I like to think they were either shaking a Magic 8 Ball, or reaching blindly into a paper bag of numbers....which one shall be next?
Remember, I got off the elevator at 10:10.
By 1:30, my number had been called. What started off as a crowded waiting room, turned into me being the 5th LAST person waiting to be called.
The Clerk at the first window I was called to was polite, and very matter-of-factly, considering how many people she had to see before me.
10 minutes with her, providing all the proof I was asked to bring, then I was told to go sit down and wait for my number again.
Just a few minutes later, I was called to my interview.
The nice young man, at window 7, was surely tired by this stage.
He mistakenly missed the fact I had 2 co-sponsors (in addition to my spouse), and was clearly above the poverty threshold. He just about marked me "does not meet". I politely told him that I had 3 (in total) sponsors. He double checked my forms, then crossed off "does not meet" and checked "meets".
My heart just about sank, but it was a totally honest mistake on his part.
I can only imagine all the people's stories he'd heard before me.
Can't fault the man for being paper-blind by that stage of the interviews.
All in all, except for the odd way they called numbers, it was a very pleasant experience. |
| Rating : |
Good |
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ver 5.0